William Abbott, brother of Joseph Abbott, was born in Little Strickland, Westmoreland, England. He began theological studies and then accepted a request from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts to leave his homeland to pursue missionary work in Canada. He came to Canada with his brother in 1818. In 1824, he was ordained deacon by the bishop of Québec, and sent to the mission at Yamaska Mountain (later named Abbotsford). In the following year he exchanged parishes with his brother, at that time Rector of St. Andrews. Under William Abbott's direction, the building of Christ Church, St. Andrews, was completed and the parish consolidated.